gizzenadj.
/ˈɡɪz(ə)n/, U.S. /ˈɡɪz(ə)n/, Scottish English /ˈɡɪz(ə)n/ Scottish.
Of casks, etc.: Leaky (through heat, or for want of moisture). to gang gizzen (see quot.). Also figurative.
ΚΠ
1790 A. Shirrefs Poems Gloss. Gizzen, gizzen'd, rent with heat, dry.
1804 W. Tarras Poems 134 Nir lat's gang gizzen, fy for shame Wi' drouthy tusk!
1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. (at cited word) To gang gizzen, to break out into chinks from want of moisture, a term applied to casks.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1899; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
gizzengizenv.
/ˈɡɪz(ə)n/, /ˈɡʌɪz(ə)n/, U.S. /ˈɡɪz(ə)n/, /ˈɡaɪz(ə)n/, Scottish English /ˈɡɪz(ə)n/, /ˈɡaɪz(ə)n/ northern and Scottish.
intransitive. To become dry and leaky, as an empty barrel. Also figurative of persons.
ΚΠ
1691 J. Ray N. Country Words in Coll. Eng. Words (ed. 2) 33 Guizen'd, spoken of Tubs or Barrels that leak through drought.
1721 A. Ramsay Poems I. Gloss. Gysened, when the wood of any vessel is shrunk with dryness.
1773 R. Fergusson Poems 88 My kirnstaff now stands gizzand at the door.
a1816 Song, Handsome Katie in Pocket Encycl. Songs I. 167 Now winter comes..And nips wi' frost the gizzen'd gowan.
1833 M. Scott Tom Cringle's Log II. i. 7 A wee outspoken—sour—crabbit—gizzened anatomy of an old woman.
1863 J. Hamilton Poems 87 A wee bit drap Was a' that e'er gade owre my weasan—E'en noo my gab begins to geysan.
1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xlix. 334 Yet when one is ‘gizzen't’ for want of news some shift must be made.
1877 E. Peacock Gloss. Words Manley & Corringham, Lincs. Gyze, Gyzen, to warp, to twist, by the sun or wind.
1893 R. O. Heslop Northumberland Words Gizen, An empty cask lying in the sun becomes gizened—that is, dry and shrunken.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1899; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1790v.1691